There were a couple of anti-death penalty people at the Thurber trial. They were giving quotes to the media and trying to stir up the debate about the death penalty.
They were from here and part of the Kansas organization. They certainly had every right to do so.
They also wrote a letter to the editor in the paper, and some readers have posted on here about how it was a bit harsh.
I thought it was a bit harsh too, but we don't edit letters and we try to let people say pretty much what they want to say.
I am not sure how others felt, but I felt it was in bad taste to try to stir up the debate during such a time. The community was trying to come to grips with one of the worst things to happen here in a long time. It was an emotional time. Two families hurting, and many people feeling stressed. It was a time of great sadness for all of us.
I realize people have to take opportunities to speak out when they arise. But still, there needs to be some sensitivity to how a community feels. The media pretty much did not allow itself to be manipulated.
Sometime in the summer maybe, would be a good time to have that debate, after we all have a little perspective and feelings have faded.
Did anyone else feel that during the trial was not a good time to be having a political debate?
The verdict was certainly a reflection of our community. On our latest online poll, 84 percent favored the death penalty, 11 percent were against it and the rest were undecided.
There were a lot of votes, with 835 saying they favored the death penalty.
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15 comments:
A lot of us have known him for a long time. We knew he could have done that for years. I feel that if he got out some how he could do it again. Thurber has always scared me. I've known him most of my life. He was never right.
I for one am not for or against the death penalty but in this case i feel it is justified. I knew jodi's family and feel bad for them. they didn't do anything to deserve this. To seem to blame them for thurber's fate is wrong.sn needs to get off her soap box and let the family get their life back together. If she want's to protest the death sentence skhe needs to have the laws of the land changed not quote verse in the paper, and try to make the da look like a murderer. enough said!
sn is a crackpot.
I know she wants to pal around with her parent's killer, but that is not the normal reaction to someone who kills a member of your family.
It is irrational and she shouldn't say it is for everybody. Only for her.
It takes a big person to forgive than to live with the hate and desire for revenge.
PLEASE take the junk about the case off the website soon. PLEASE!
I felt it was totally inappropriate for the editorial writers to BLAME the jurors for the death sentence. They were following the law. As it has been pointed out many times Mr. Thurber had opportunities over the past two years to fess up and apologize. Had that been done a long time ago he'd be sitting in a prison cell NOT waiting to be executed (if the judge upholds the recommendation).
I'm sorry Mr. Thurber has a mental illness BUT people still know right from wrong. He had the opportunity to NOT kill Jodi but he CHOSE to do so. He CHOSE to lie, he CHOSE to put his family through this. The jury CHOSE to follow the law.
Ms. Norton needs to take her preaching to the state and quit blaming those that can't do anything about it. I'm sure the prosecution did not get a big thrill out of going to court and convincing a jury to put Thurber to death. They too have a job to uphold the law, which they did. (by the way thank you for your hard work). And the jury, I"m sure, did not enjoy voting for the death penalty. However everyone did their jobs the best they could.
Ms. Norton & Mr. Anderson are putting the blame on the wrong people. It's almost like they are saying that Thurber should be set free...(just my opinion I'm sure that is not their intent)
I never really knew how I felt about the death penalty until now.
As it has been said on here before Mr. Thurber is not a victim of the death penalty but it is a consequence of his actions.
Yes Jesus teaches us to forgive...but I'm not Jesus.
On February 21, 2009 9:50 AM
Anonymous said...
...I've known him most of my life. He was never right.
***********************************
All the more reason to spare his life. Clearly, he has had some problems. A sane person dosen't do what he did. He is never getting out. There is no reason to kill him other than vengence.
If thats your reasoning, great. I can respect that. I don't agree with it, but I can respect it.
Other reasons don't wash with me.
I respect the jury's decision. I don't agree with the death penalty, and believe it is not moral. It is the law of the land however, and I believe they followed the law, deliberated honestly, and came to a lawfull conclusion.
If a pitbull attacked and mauled a person it would be put down on the spot.
If a person attacked and mauled another person they get to have a trial, lawyers and a jury decide if guilty or not. Then they get to sit on death row for 20 yrs before they are put down.
I wish Jodi could have lived another 20 yrs so she could have finished school, established a career, married her boyfriend and had children but that was all taken away from her in five long torturous hrs.
For Jodi, I am happy with the outcome of the trial, it was right and it was fair.
For Justin, he chose this path and he needs to pull up his big boy boxers and deal with it.
Feb. 22, 5:45
I agree. What has always struck me as an odd dichotomy is those who argue against the death penalty are the exact same people who have no problem with snuffing out the lives of the unborn. I won't mention who they are, but it starts with 'D'. (And,yes, I know it works both ways)
During this whole "Thurber thing" I have been waiting..... Still there is no talk about what we as a community could have done to prevent this. The countless charges brought up against "Thurber" that were thrown out of court. Buglary, Breaking and entering, Assault, Forgery, Harrassment. All before he ever did that to Jodi. From all the charges he had against him he should have been in the pen years ago. Most of the charges were thrown out of court. Faulty police work was the reason given most of the time. They even had video footage of him trying to cash checks illigally. But not enough for a positive id. I know if my daughter ever has a stalker the last thing I would do is file a police report. The police dont seem able to do much.
February 23, 2009 5:18 PM
I agree. There was a lot of talk when Jodi was killed about how Thurber had been let off the hook for many many things that should have sent him to jail had the authorities done their jobs. I just read tonight that a guy was arrested and then let go because he claimed he was having medical problems. It brought back memories of when Thurber was let go just a few days before abducting, raping, torturing, and ultimately murdering a wonderful young girl. I guess they haven't learned the lesson.
It's a shame that no lessons were learned after paying such a high cost to be taught them.
Im all for learning lessons from things.
But there is also the mentality of having to have someone to crucify for things.
Hindsight is always 20-20.
How many marginal people are there out there who could become violent and do bad things?
Do we lock up everyone who is having trouble?
I dont think you can realistically prevent something like this from happening.
I know if my daughter ever has a stalker the last thing I would do is file a police report. The police dont seem able to do much.
>>>>
You should call the police.
Remember, a law was passed last year as a result of Jodi's murder, to make the law more enforceable.
Not calling the police would be really wrong.
Its called defense lawyers, especially the right one. They look for contradictions and loop holes in police reports. That can be all it takes to drop a charge.
If Thurber had been found guilty of enough crimes, they could of slapped him in prison for being a habitual violator! But like James is saying, do call the police, state laws have changed and the polices hands are not as tied as before. In fact a lot of criminal state laws should be looked at again to protect innocent citizens.
"Its called defense lawyers, especially the right one. They look for contradictions and loop holes in police reports. That can be all it takes to drop a charge."
Thurber was never even put on trial for the many things he did that should have landed him in jail. The charges were always plea bargained or dropped because the oficer's didn't follow up, as was the case when he took the woman and her daughter out for a joyride.
Many balls were dropped. Except for the county attorney's.
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